Captain’s colossal innings brings home

Sat. 28th May Melksham 374-4 Westbury 2s 95 all out. Melksham win by 279

MELKSHAM’S captain, Adam Mitchell, utterly dominated proceedings during Melksham’s home clash with Westbury 2s, smashing his way to a colossal 243 not out, to help his side claim a comprehensive 279-run victory.

The Melksham captain was unstoppable throughout the 1st innings, whilst Joe Veacock (56) and Lewie Simmons also (52*) chipped in, as the home side reached an unassailable total of 374. Westbury’s difficult afternoon didn’t get any easier during the 2nd innings, with the hosts skittling their opponents out for 95, with Mark Mullis turning in a top performance with figures of 4-8.   

Mitchell wasted little time in going about his work upon the start of play, scoring 10 runs in his 3 balls to set the tempo for the afternoon. Things didn’t go exactly to plan for Melksham however, with Westbury’s Kajan Alocius claiming the wickets of Chay Forester (4) and Simon Turner (0) to leave the homeside on 32-2 off 5 overs.  

Unfortunately for Westbury, there were now two free-scoring batsmen at the crease, thanks to the arrival of Joe Veacock to the crease. He followed the lead of his skipper by blasting 56 off just 35 balls, although was unable to push on any further after being caught in the 14th over, leaving the score at 117-3.  

Whilst Veacock’s innings was coming to an end, Mitchell’s was only just getting started. Unperturbed by the further loss of Russ Collins for 1, he launched into a ferocious onslaught against the Westbury bowlers, with boundary after boundary. By the 30th over Melksham had already reached 200, and from here the run-rate only accelerated even further. Whilst Mitchell went about his business, Lewie Simmons was also quietly building an innings for himself, rotating the strike for his partner, whilst facing just enough balls to chalk up a maiden fifty for the club. It was Mitchell who finished the undoubted star of the show though. His colossal innings finished with him having smashed 32 fours and 7 sixes off an innings that lasted 139 balls, leaving Melksham all but victorious in the match with a score of 374-4.  

An already daunting task for Westbury was only made only harder when Rich Hemmings (1-20) struck early on at the start of the 2nd innings, before the visitors had even managed to score a run. Melksham would have to wait a while for any more wickets though; indeed, it was not until the 17th over that the wickets started to flow, thanks to a double-wicket maiden from Matt Lee (2-12).  

Out of the Westbury batsmen, only Garic Hopkins was able to mount any sort of resistance, hitting a defiant 53 in what proved to be the only bright spot in a difficult day for the away team. By the 34th over, that day would be on the brink of ending thanks to the impressive Mark Mullis, who finished a brilliant spell with 6 maidens from 8 overs.  

In the end it was Chris Singh who claimed the final wicket, with Westbury having finished with a meagre 95 to cap of what was a ruthless and dominant display from Mitchell and his side.       

Melksham Cricket Club would like to thank LW Roofing for sponsoring the match ball for this game.  

There was no match for Melksham’s first team over the Jubilee weekend.